HAMDEN — Senior Day may not have started the way that the Bobcats wanted, as they fell behind by as much as 11 points, but they battled through adversity for the third time in four games to defeat the Peacocks 69-64.
The Peacocks smothered the Bobcats, forcing unforced turnovers, errant shots and empty possessions. Quinnipiac ended the first half shooting itself in the foot, striking on 32.3% of shots from the field and 9% from beyond the arc.
“It’s frustrating for me,” head coach Tom Pecora said. “The most frustrating thing for me is always watching players not play to their potential. When you know how good a guy could be and he’s just not there, or he’s not known, he continues to make similar mistakes over and over again, and that’s what makes me crazy.”
One of those players was junior forward Amarri Monore — who didn’t hit a field goal (0-11 from the field) in the first half.
With the Bobcats struggling to hit the bottom of the cup, Pecora benched the Newburgh, New York, native to bring back his competitive side.
“I think that was a good play on our part to do that, because it took him to the next level of his competitive nature,” Pecora said. “And when he comes out, he starts attacking the rim like that; guys don’t want to get in front of him.”
The benching ignited Monroe, scoring 16 of his 19 points in the second half. He played a major part in the Bobcats 17-2 run, dropping a massive dunk that sent Lender Court into a frenzy to give the Bobcats their first lead — 55-53 — since leading 4-2.
“Just knowing that the crowds are there to support you and give you that energy,” Monroe said. “We feed off the crowd, not just me, our whole team, make a shot and just hear the roars from the crowd, and we get to stop and hear the roars from the crowd. It just gives us momentum.”
These Bobcats were able to ride the momentum and they were as influential to the game as Monroe.
Savion Lewis
The seventh-year guard has been the Bobcats main facilitator in his time in Hamden, breaking the Quinnipiac Division I record for assists in a career this season. On Friday night, it was his scoring ability that impacted the game.
On a night where the Peacocks were doing an amazing job defensively cutting off the Dix Hills, New York native’s passing lanes, he was able to drop 15 points. It was Lewis’ fourth time this season breaking double figures.
“I’m a scorer; I can get buckets,” Lewis said. “We have a really great team and I’m a good point guard, I’m gonna get people involved, but, I’m not gonna just let a team let me score and not take the advantage.”
Lewis was also able to drop five dimes to go along with his scoring outburst, and one of those went to fellow graduate student Paul Otieno.
Paul Otieno
Otieno was all over the court Friday night, playing 37 minutes and earning his 12th double-double, only bested in the MAAC by Monroe with 13. The Nairobi, Kenya native was also able to get four blocks, whether it was a chase-down block or meeting a Peacock at the rim.
Being here for three seasons has been an adjustment for Otieno, playing with Ike Nweke his first year and now becoming the starting center for the past two seasons.
“Living in the moment and experience,” Otieno said. “My first year was kind of rough.”
Alexis Reyes
Named to the starting lineup Friday night alongside the other seniors — guards Quinn Guth and Doug Young —- Reyes played 31 minutes and was a force from the get-go. The Roxbury, Massachusetts, native, who has been touted as the “glue guy” for the Bobcats, was there once again to fill the stat sheet. Reyes finished the game with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
While the other seniors, Young, Guth and graduate student forward Richie Springs were only able to make it onto the floor for a combined 12 minutes, their impact on the team and program remains large.
“I owe a great, great amount to that group,” Pecora said. “They’ll always have a place in my heart because of their work ethic and how legit they are.”
The Bobcats sit in first place in the MAAC and control their own destiny after Marist and Merrimack were both defeated Friday night, but as the mantra goes, it’s just a “one-game winning streak.”
“We’re focused on us right now,” Monroe said. “Whether we’re on first, second, it’s one game winning streaks, whoever we got next on our schedule, that’s the game we’re worried about.”
